Albert (_rising_): Mother, I see that I have no place here. I will get across the line some way this very day, and join the Confederate Army. (Sally _runs to him._) Mrs. Mortimer (_rises_): What! My son fight against the old flag? Sally: Albert, Albert; O, you cannot mean it! Albert: Mother, you are a Southern woman; you ought to bid me godspeed. Mrs. Mortimer: Yes, I am a Southern woman, but I am the descendant of men who helped to bind these States together, and no child of mine shall, with my consent, help to sever them. You shall _not_ go, Albert. Albert: Mother, I must! I shall--go. (_Exit at right, running._ Sally _and_ Mrs. Mortimer _throw their arms about each other and sink upon the sofa._) Curtain Here may be introduced a short drill of the Blue and the Gray if desirable. It would certainly have a pleasing effect and would tend to add variety and spice to the entertainment. ACT II Fife and drum heard playing YANKEE DOODLE, behind scenes. Auntie Temp discovered dusting the furniture. Auntie Temp: Never seen nuthin' lak dem chilluns. Dat dere Clementina Diana she's jes' nuthin' but a no-'count shif'less niggah eber sence dem Linkum sojas come 'round heah. She found dat ole fife somewha's 'round an' she jes' blow on it all day long (_puffing in her excitement_); cain't get nuthin' else out'n her, an' Gawge Washington Augustus! (_laughing_) golly, he's jes' 's bad, he des poun' de old drum. O, deah, mighty queah times when niggahs jes' tinks dey's got nuthin' to do but stan' 'round and make jig music. Mrs. Mortimer (_enters at right_): Aunt Temp, those children of yours can make pretty good music. I think we'll have to send them to that new Fisk University, just founded. (_Sits in rocking-chair at right-front._) Auntie Temp: Lan' sakes alive, Miss' Em'line! what de wo'ld you-all do dat foh? Suah dem chilluns ain't done nuthin' foh to shet dem up in de what ye call it, tentiarity. Mrs. Mortimer: O, Aunt Temp, I didn't say the _Penitentiary_. I said the _University_; that's where they educate the darkies, you know, and when they are natural musicians like your children, they teach them all the branches of music. Auntie Temp: What! eddicate de niggahs! I hain't nevah seen no good come o' dat. I'll eddicate that Gawge Washington Augustus to saw wood, and Clementina Diana has jes' nachually _got_ to lea'n to make a hoe-cake 's good 's her mammy kin. I cain't see no use o' nuthin' else. Lan' sakes, I reckon what's good enough for dere ole niggah mammy 's good enough for dem two black niggahs. (_Placing arms akimbo and holding head up proudly._) Mrs. Mortimer: But everything's changed now, you know, Aunt Temp: there aren't any slaves any more, and so we must teach you colored people to take care of yourselves. Auntie Temp: Yes, I know, I yerd lots o' dat kin' o' talk jes' dese yere days, but I reckon I jes' stays right heah wif you-alls twell I dies. Clementina (_running in from right_): O, mammy, did you-all heah de music?